A Memory Unchained (3 page)

very humbling. I learned the hard way that no man is an

island and certainly no man becomes a designer without a

lot of friends to help him along the way!” He smiled and continued, “I am so fortunate to have many good friends

and I feel I have again met another good friend today!”

He bowed gently and kissed her hand.

“I feel that way too,” she placed her hand on top of

his.

“Tomorrow I have someone I want you to meet. He is

a very special friend of mine. Someone who can help you

here in Paris!” he said.

“I would consider that an honor,” she replied gra-

ciously.

“He’s young, handsome and a very ambitious man. He

is also an American in Paris!” He smiled.

“That’s wonderful. When do I get to meet this fellow

American?” she asked.

“I shall plan a small dinner party for you, then you

shall meet Grant Mondane. He has control of one of the

largest chains of department stores in Europe. He is only thirty and is one of the youngest entrepreneurs in all of Europe!”

“Sounds very impressive. Actually, just about right for

my daughter!” She laughed. “She just turned 21.”

“I know you mentioned your daughter but there is no

way you have a daughter 21!” He looked shocked.

“My you do know all the right things to say Mr. Du-

par!” she teased, making a polite nod.

“All I can say, Chéri, if she is as beautiful as her mother well—ooh lala!” He smiled.

A Memory Unchained___________ 23

“You are so good for my ego, and I do thank you for

the compliment. Jill is truly beautiful inside and out and the love of my life,” Pamela added quickly.

“And your husband, Chéri, is he also the love of your

life?” Rex watched her face. Pamela paused and looked

down for a long moment not speaking.

“Forgive me, Chéri, I am intruding,” his voice cracked

with embarrassment.

“No need to feel that way,” she smiled softly, “My hus-

band passed away last year very suddenly. I was completely devastated. I thought my life was over. This is the first time I have been away since then.”

“I am so sorry, Chéri,” he said softly.

“Jill loved her father as much as I did. The loss was hard for both of us. But, she was young and had an exciting

life in college so she has been able to go on. For me it was not so easy. One very good thing came out of this tragedy.

My daughter and I have become closer than ever. We are

very good friends.”

“How very lucky you are to have her,” he smiled and

added, “Will Jill be joining you in Parie?”

“I wish she could but she is very busy with her school-

ing. She makes sure she comes home on vacations and

summer but not often enough for me,” Pamela sighed.

Pamela couldn’t believe she had opened up so quickly

to Rex. It was not like her to share her feelings so openly with anyone, especially regarding her late husband. She

took a deep breath and waited for Rex to speak.

“You miss your husband very much don’t you

Chéri?”

“More than I can ever say. His memory is with me

24 __________________Gloria Graham

constantly. We were married twenty-three years,” Pamela’s eyes showed the sadness she felt inside. “We were constant companions. It was a very special relationship.” She paused a moment and then continued, “It was an unselfish love.

He always wanted the best for me and I wanted the same

for him. I do miss him so,” her voice trailed off.

Rex touched her hand softly. His understanding was

electric. Pamela felt that electricity and knew she had a new friend in Rex.

That evening Pamela was still remembering the conver-

sation with Rex and how the memories were flooding back

even as she had tried to put it all behind her. Just talking with Rex about it made it all seem as if it were yesterday.

She felt alone and sad as she sat in the hotel room. Her life had changed so much this past year. She hated it without

her Tom.

Where had the years gone? There were so many things

left undone, so many things they planned to do together.

Pamela slipped into deep thought.

Pamela thought back to the day she married her Tom. It

seemed so long ago and yet as only yesterday. Her thoughts reeled as she remembered the day she spotted Tom across

the hallway from her design class in High school. She re-

called how she always made a special detour so Tom could

get a good look and give a wolf whistle so she would look around.

Pam had a special little twist of her hips and a toss of

her long black hair that caused the guys to turn around.

Tom was no exception. With Tom she always managed to

give him an enticing smile.

Tom was on the varsity football team as an end and

A Memory Unchained___________ 25

Pamela was a majorette so when the season started they

found themselves together. Tom had been just an average

player but Pamela thought he was the only one on the

team. Tom spent time watching her as she pranced around,

twirling her baton to the music of the school band.

Pamela recalled how she almost gave up on Tom. He

was so shy she wondered if he would ever get up the cour-

age to ask her for a date. When he finally asked her out, she about fainted.

Pamela smiled as she remembered that first date. She

loved the way Tom always teased about that first date and their courting days. His favorite remarks were, “I was a real nerd I think. Never dated before, a real backward kid.”

Pamela remembered too what a change came over Tom

when she got him to go to youth group at the church with

her. It wasn’t long until Tom was the favorite of everyone.

They shared the same faith and God smiled on them as a

couple from the very beginning.

Pamela wanted to stop remembering but the memories

just kept coming back. She could see Tom pulling into her driveway for their first date. His cute customized Chev-rolet, the one he worked on constantly, made her heart

skip a beat.

Her parents liked him right away. “Home by twelve,”

her dad reminded them as they went out the door.

“Sure thing Sir,” Tom answered firmly. They were home

by twelve she recalled. Pamela realized she was in love

before Tom did. It took him a while to realize he couldn’t live without her. Tom didn’t know it but Pamela had her

mind made up from the moment she laid eyes on him.

He was doomed! Tom and Pamela dated for a year before

26 __________________Gloria Graham

he asked her to marry him.

Pamela’s eyes were filled with tears of joy when Rex’s

voice made her jump. “You have been away in your

thoughts, Chéri,” Rex sat quietly in the chair next to

her.

“Forgive me,” she smiled.

“What shall we do tomorrow Chéri?” he asked, realizing

it was time to change the mood of the moment.

“I would love to see your salon and some of your de-

signs. Is that possible, or do you worry that I’m a spy?” she flashed him a questioning look.

“For you Chéri, anything is possible. We shall have our

very own showing of my most beloved designs. Tomorrow

it is!” He bent over and kissed her hand softly.

Pamela waved as Rex’s limousine pulled away from

the curb. “How lucky I am to have this new friend!” she

sighed as she walked toward the hotel steps. A gust of wind caught her skirt and in that very moment she felt a sudden loneliness overwhelm her.

The alarm woke Pamela just in time to hear

a loud knock on the door. She grumbled as she headed for

the door. She peeked through the small hole to see Rex

Dupar standing there, impatiently shifting from one foot

to the other.

Opening the door, she began to apologize. “I’m so

sorry, I must have overslept,” she yawned, as Rex entered the apartment.

“Jet lag, it’s called,” he laughed. “No need for apolo-

gies, just get yourself ready to do the town, Chéri! We are going to need every moment we have in this day for you

to take in my Parie!”

Pamela walked slowly out of the room toward the

bedroom. “Why don’t you start the coffee, that will save

us time,” she smiled. Rex headed towards the coffee pot

sitting on the chest.

28 __________________Gloria Graham

“Tea, Chéri, Tea! What am I going to do with you? You

are in Parie and it’s Tea!” he laughed.

“Okay, okay, Tea. Guess I will get used to this place

sooner or later,” she laughed.

Rex began his tour immediately as the limousine left

the curb. He pointed out everything as they passed it but Pamela found it hard to keep her eyes open. The jet lag

was really taking hold.

“I hope we can re-do some of this tour later when I

wake up,” she laughed. “I hate missing anything!”

They pulled up in front of a very ornate building and

stopped. Jason, the chauffer, opened the door as Pamela

exclaimed, “What a beautiful building!” Jason nodded his

head in agreement.

“Come Chéri, I have a surprise for you,” Rex took

her hand and they walked up a long, long flight of stairs.

“Now you will see where I spend all my time!” he said as

he opened the door to his office.

Rex’s office took Pamela’s breath away. His monetary

success as one of Paris’ foremost designers was evident

immediately. “Oh my, it’s beautiful, absolutely gorgeous,”

she sighed.

“Mi Chéri, this is just the beginning. Come sit down

and prepare for your real surprise.” Rex ushered her to the plush, velvet Chippendale armchair sitting in a room just off the main office.

The room was beautifully decorated in gold velvet and

bright royal blue. There was a runway that filled the center of the room with a small stage at the front. Gold velvet

curtains were drawn and the distant sound of music filled the room.

A Memory Unchained___________ 29

“And now for your surprise, Chéri.”

The curtains parted as Rex announced, “The first show-

ing of my latest creations, just for you Chéri.” He sat down beside her and she leaned close to him and whispered, “I

feel so special. But are you sure you trust me?

“You are! And I do!” he smiled.

Runway music began as the models paraded in front

of them, each wearing one of Rex’s newest original fall

creations. Watching each model glide elegantly across the plush apricot carpeted ramp caught her breath. A very tall elegant model moved toward her. The look on Pamela’s

face was one of shock. Her eyes lit up as if she had seen a ghost!

Rex watched her as the girl in the blue chiffon under

lace gown swirled in front of her, dipping and twirling

slowly. The back of the gown dripped with white sparkling diamonds, each one catching a special color of the rainbow as she walked. It was a dazzling dress, a showstopper.

Pamela watched intently, she couldn’t help but drift off

to another time, another day, another chained up memory,

a delicate, beautiful memory too long ago, yet as if it were yesterday. As the model swirled around and around, she

remembered the time she and her husband Tom celebrated

together.

Tom had held her close as they danced. She wore what

came to be his favorite dress, the blue chiffon, with sparkling rhinestones shimmering down her back. She had

picked it out especially for this special occasion. It was their anniversary.

They had made plans to spend their 20th wedding

anniversary in Paris but as the summer came closer it was 30 __________________Gloria Graham

evident to them both they could not be away from their

business that long, so Paris had to wait.

“Sorry Baby,” Tom had said in his very straightforward,

loving way. “We’re going on vacation, I promise, some-

where a little closer, maybe up the coast,” he smiled. He looked so pathetic and apologetic that Pamela had agreed

quickly.

Pamela sank deeper into her silence of memories as she

watched the model glide back and forth across the runway.

Even the music seemed the same. She sank deeper into

her memories.

The vacation Tom spoke of happened in October of

that year. It was a beautiful fall and they were basking in the beauty of New England and it’s masterpiece of colors.

Each colorful leaf had seemed to reflect the glow of love they had for each other. It had turned out to be a second honeymoon, not in Paris, but in the small, quaint beauty

of the Coast of New England.

Pamela could feel Tom’s nervousness as he turned at

the road sign that read, “Back Bay Harbor.”

“Okay baby, close your eyes tight,” he instructed her,

“No peeking!” He sounded so excited. Pamela closed her

eyes as her heart began to beat a little faster in anticipation.

“Okay, open your eyes,” he said.

Pamela opened her eyes to see a small cottage that sat

right on the cliff overlooking the ocean. “Where are we?”

she asked, sighing a little as her eyes took in the beautiful view and soft breeze of the ocean hitting her face.

“We’re at our home away from home!” he smiled.

“Don’t kid me Tom, you know I don’t like jokes!” she

A Memory Unchained___________ 31

frowned.

“Well it needs a little work, but it’s ours!” he said,

“Happy Anniversary baby!” Pamela’s eyes filled with tears of joy, as she squealed and threw herself into his arms,

kissing him continuously on his face and neck.